October 21, 2016

Tiny houses are totally on trend, so this Halloween why not make your very own miniature haunted house to celebrate the creepy holiday! Use this as a table centerpiece, party decor, or to scare your friends. Which creep factor is YOUR favorite? Let me know in a comment.

September 16, 2016

Join the DIY denim fashion trend by customizing a fun back patch stencil. Use your own jeans or jacket and Meg's free printables to make your own denim designs. Meg shows you 2 easy ways - you get to choose which one is your favorite.

July 16, 2016

Enamel pins are one of the most fun summer fashion trends, so today we are DIYing our own. What says summer fun more than peace signs, pizza, and popsicles? Make pins, earrings, and necklaces in this easy tutorial.

July 15, 2016

I was recently invited to attend the New York City event for Angie's List's new membership model. Angie's List is a leading provider of trusted reviews of over 700 different service categories to help improve people's home lives. That is what Nest and I are all about, so this seemed like the perfect event and fit for me and you darling readers. I LOVE finding ways to support and uplift working women, so that we can create the lives we want and can be proud of. Often, women feel pulled in so many different directions, and we want to excel at both our home life and our careers. With both being full-time jobs, we sometimes end up feeling like we are failing at both. Never fear, ladies. WE ARE NOT. We are doing great. But when it doesn't feel like that, we might need a little extra support or help. Any home task or chore that can be made easier, more simple, and with a person or company that is 100% vetted and trusted, I believe this can help us working women follow through with the tasks at hand, while allowing as much time to spend with our loved ones as possible. THAT is why I really dig this new service.

I wasn't quite sure how Angie's List could really elevate me at my level of life right now. But when I heard that Angie's List has trusted reviews on renter-friendly DIY projects and upgrades, housecleaning, AND pet sitters, walkers, groomers, and veterinarians, I knew this was going to be an invaluable, supportive and helpful service for me and my furry babies! For a working, busy woman whose life revolves around her beloved (elderly, high-maintenance) rescue dogs, this is where I got really excited. My dogs have health and behavioral issues (from both cancer and abuse from a previous home), so they can not just go to any dog care facility or kennel. I've been nervous to even use a dog walker because I've heard horror stories of non-insured and uncertified dog walkers not handling animals the way we would want our sweet souls to be cared for. A trusted reference and resource that holds businesses accountable would go a long way with me for my pups, and with my friends and their kids.

The event took place in a gorgeous home in the West Village, so instantly I was dreaming of owning my own, or at least making upgrades to the current apartment I am renting. In between tasting the delicious treats that were displayed in adorable ways, I mingled with Angie's List service providers who offer support and services to home owners and renters, and picked up some very helpful takeaway tips.

For instance, carve a graphic message into a watermelon when serving fruit salad at your next get together because that is pretty adorable! And, when having work done on your home, make sure redoing the floor is saved for last.

The event was specifically celebrating the new features on Angie's List, including free membership and new membership levels.

Angie started her very successful business 20 years ago, and after building such a successful platform I had to ask for a takeaway tip for those of us who have our own businesses. Angie said "perseverance", and then left me with "always go for it, the worst thing that can happen is someone says 'No'." A great reminder to go out there and make it happen for yourself, be it in the home or in the office, WE are the ones who create our own lives.

Thank you Angie, Angie's List, and you dear readers for reading my content. This is a sponsored post, and one that I chose with care and thought. I only partner with brands and companies that I believe will offer you valuable, helpful support for your home and lives.

July 4, 2016

Make modern minimalist pop art of your favorite junk foods with Meg's free printables. Kitchen, dining room or dorm room art can be expensive, but these free printables make it easy to create professional level art on a budget.

May 20, 2016

Make your home smell amazing while calming your senses with one easy recipe. Whether you suffer from anxiety, insomnia, or just enjoy a refreshing, all-natural aroma, this is a quick and easy project that provides great gifts. Essential oils can be mixed into my easy recipe to create a customizable pillow and room spray for just about anyone!

March 8, 2016

People in my community and circle are becoming more aware of the impact anxiety is having on our lives and bodies, I am seeing a larger dialogue about it. Maybe it's because I'm in a creative field and anxiety disorders tend to affect creative people more, or maybe people with anxiety tend to be more creative. Whichever the direction the circle goes, we are all sitting it in and looking around at each other with more acceptance, truth, and support in our eyes.

We are having a bigger conversation about what "anxiety" means. It doesn't mean that you are negative, or a pessimist, or a worrier, or are stressed. The anxiety I am talking about is the biochemical part of our body that tells us we are in danger. It wakes up our brains and sends adrenaline pumping through our veins so forcefully that even when we are DEAD TIRED, our bodies are alert and ready to take on the world. This can serve us in positive ways and it can harm us and take us down. When we empower ourselves with awareness, information, and support, we can create a more informed, positive relationship with anxiety. We can harness it to work for us, and we will notice when it is working against us.

We may not be able to cure or control it, but we can create the space and time and behavior patterns to engage ourselves in what will lead to a more free and comfortable life. I will always be working through my anxiety, and I've turned to resources and people to help me. One of the most impactful people who have helped me is Michaela Cullen, one of my best friends (bridesmaid and Godmother-style), and she happens to be an integral life coach who has worked with her own anxiety for most of her life.

In today's MACC video, we talk about 10 different ways you can empower yourself and start to have a healthier relationship with your anxiety.

Stop Anxiety Now Kit by Dr. Eve A. Wood - Visualizations and meditations that are great to have on your phone to guide you through your anxiety and panic attacks in the moment. I travel with this all the time.

Marianne Williamson - Podcasts, books... any and all. She discusses managing fear and moving through it into a space of love. I feel so much calmer after just listening to her voice or reading her books. The Course In Miracles is great also (this is the book she bases all of her teachings from).

January 30, 2016

Make a moon phase shirt, scarf, or any other fashion piece with this quick and easy DIY. Use a thrift store find or upcycle an old piece of clothing or to make this project cheap or even free! You can also create cool lunar wall art using a similar method as seen in Panda Head Blog. Yes, it is washable! Check out the tutorial for care instructions.

Welcome to Nest! I am Meg Allan Cole, a DIY guru and lifestyle blogger who lives in Brooklyn, NY with my musician husband and rescue dogs. I have a YouTube channel where I show you how to make things for you + your home. See my videos by clicking the box above, scan my work below, or drop me a line megallan@gmail.com.